: I seem to be looking for the next boat already! This time I would like
: to try strip building and should like an open double. I have just received
: my copy of Nick's book and like the sound of the double.

Seek psychiatric attention immediately

: Does making the cockpit long and open require strengthening of the hull (more
: glass)? Has anyone already been down this path?

Hi Nick. As Kyle suggests (thanks Kyle), I am right at the end of such a project and that is an excellent question. This double is 20' 8". It works out to being almost twice the volume of a 17' single so I used more glass for that reason alone. It is very solid but, now that I'm almost done, I see two areas where it might be vulnerable in... less than ideal conditions:

1) under the small side decks. I don't have a monocoque structure there so a sharp downward blow could cause them to crack. I will probably end up glassing small triangular shaped supports under it every 6" or so.

2) The second area of weakness would be the mid span of the cockpit. Most canoes have a brace (thwart) there. That would keep the cockpit from cracking-in from a severe blow broadside. I may add some sort of removable thwart device and I have ports along the inside cockpit for doing that type of thing, see http://www.chipsandresky.com/cedarstrip/images/inside.jpg

Overall though, I am pleased with the way it's turned out and I will be able to fit my wife and two kids in it. I think it will work out fine after I make the two modifications. BTW I used 6.4oz of glass inside and out with an extra layer on the outside football. I used multiple layers of 3.2oz satin weave to try to get the highest strength/weight I could. That went down okay but it is sort of a different topic. I hope this helps.

Chip
www.ChipSandresky.com